Machine for double-seaming metal sheets.



Nn. 7U|,0Il. Patented May 27, |902.

C. N.'BROWN.

MACHINE FUR DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

l (Application led Jan. 6, 1902.) (No Model.) 6 'Sheets-Sheet I.

` l! uw I "finir l DEI? Willi' a4 TTORNE Y.

No. 70l,0||. Patented May 27, |902.

C. N. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1902.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shee 2,

I'I l y .f Lm illu' m i l 0 INVENTOR Of haw Wil l? Q.

04 TTORNE Y,

WITNESSES.' ""m No. 701,0". Patented May 27, |902.

C. N. BROWN.

MACHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

(Application led Jan. 6, 1902.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shed 3.

l UHTORNEY.

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3 7/ We@ Y u x A@ WITNESSES No. 70|,0||. Patented May 27, |902.

C. N. BROWN. MACHINE FUR DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

(Application led Jan. 6, 1902.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

@0477' ORNE Y.A

No. 70mm. -Patenied May 27, |902.

c. N. BowN.

IIIAGHINE FOR DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1902.) (No Model.) 1 6 Sheets-$heet 5.

WI TNE SSES z o4 TT ORNE Y.

No. 70|,0IL Patented May 27, |902.

, C. N. BROWN. MACHINE FOB DOUBLE SEAMING METAL SHEETS.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1902-) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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NXF STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. BROVN, OF SYRACUSE, NEV YORK.

SPECIFICATIN forming part of Letters :Patent No. 701,011, dated May 27,1902.

Application filed January 6, 1902. Serial No. 88,574. (No model.)

10 all, w/wm zit' may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin MachinesforDouble- Seaming Metal Sheets, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The purpose of this invention is to expeditiously and eectually join bydouble seams metal sheetsl disposed at an angle to each other; and tothat end the invention consists in the novel organization of the machinehereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of a machineembodying my invention and showingthe same with the article operatedupon and in its condition at the completion of the double-seamingoperation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the seaming mechanism,showing its condition preparatory to the iirst step of the seamingoperation on the sheets shown in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section in line a; Qc in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is ahorizontalsection on line y y in Fig. 2.' Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are furtherenlarged longitudinal sections of the platen, dies, andpress-follower,showing said parts in their various positions during the successivesteps in the operation of the machine. Fig. 9 is a still furtherenlarged vertical longitudinal section of the seaming mechanism inposition for bending part way the edges of the sheets to be seamed. Fig.1Q is an inverted plan view of the main and auxiliary dies, and Fig. llis a face view of the under side of the main die.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the main supporting-frame of the machine, which frameincludes as one of its constituent parts a pedestal A', rigidly securedto cross-bars A2, fastened to the lower portions of the standards of theframe, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

To the pedestal A is connected the mechanism for raising and loweringthe platen B, which is directly over the top of the pedestal andsuitably shaped to support the metal sheets to be united by theoperation of the machine. Said platen is guided in its verti- `calmovement by pins a a, rigidly attached to and depending from the bottomof the platen and passing through eyes a a' in the top plate of thepedestal, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

For raising and lowering the platen B, I prefer to employ eccentrics CC, upon which the platen rides. Said eccentrics are fastened to shafts CC', which areparallel with the platen and pivotally supported in theuprights of the pedestal A. To the shafts C' C are fastened arms D D,which are parallel and of even lengths. The free ends of these arms arecoupled together by a rod b to compel the eccentrics to move in unison.This movement is effected by means of an arm E, fastened at one end to ashaft l1', mounted in bearings b2, attached to the pedestal, as moreclearly seen in Fig. 9 of the drawings. rIhe opposite end of the arm Eis connected by a rod b3 to one of the arms D. A hand-lever F isattached to the end of the shaft b for turning said shaft, which causesthe arm E to transmit motion to the eccentrics C C to raise and lowerthe platen.

To limit the upward thrust of the platen, I employ an adjustable stop c,preferably of the form of a vertical bolt, fastened at its lower end tothe top plate of the pedestal and passingwith its upper end through aneye c' in a plate c2, carried some distance below the platen and eitherintegral therewith or rigidly attached thereto. The upper end of saidbolt is provided with a head c3, which by Contact with the top of theplate c2 arrests the upward movement of the platen. The lower end of thebolt c is screwthreaded and passes through a correspondinglyscrew-threaded hole in the top plate of the pedestal A. By turning saidbolt it can be made to project a greater or less distance above the topof the pedestal to limit the movement of the platen to a greater or lessdegree, as may be found necessary. l

The invention is more particularly designed for the manufacture oftype-writing-machine covers and analogous sheet-metal articles, in whichthe end sheets thereof are attached at right angles to the sheet formingthe bodyof the article. To allow said sheets to be united by a doubleseam, the edges of the end sheet IOO G are formed with outwardlyprojecting flanges'G and the end edges of the body-sheet H withinwardly-projecting fianges H', and in placing said sheets in positionto be operated on by the machine the end sheet G is to be placed uponthe platen B so as to cause the flange G to project upward and supportthe sheet H in a suspended position by the flange Il resting upon thetop of the flange G', as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings.In the operation of forming the double seam with these iianges one ofthe ends of sheets G is placed flatly upon the platen B with the sheet Hhanging by its flange H upon the edge of the flange G. Said sheets areheld in position on the platen by means of a suitable clamp K, embracingthe sheet H. To effect the double-seaming of said sheets, I employ thefollowing mechanisms, viz: I represents the follower of a suitablepress, which may consist of toggle-levers J J, connected at their upperends to the head of the frame A and at their lower ends' to the followerI and intermediately to right and left threaded nuts L L, in which worksa correspondinglythreaded screw Lin the usual and well-knownv manner.The follower I faces the platen B, and between said parts are introducedthe dies employed for successively folding and clenching the flanges Gand H. The main die e is rigidly secured to the bottom of the follower Iand is formed in its under side with a recess e', shaped to receive theflanges G and H of the plates Gand H. The recess e' is formed withasurroundingrlm e3, which is sloped inwardly, as shown at ei. In therecess e' is the auxiliary die f, which is sustained therein yieldinglyto allow it to be moved laterally as well as vertically. The edges ofsaid auxiliary die are sloped correspondingly to the slope e4 of the rime3.

For lifting the auxiliary die so as to sustain it normally on the faceof the recess e I prefer to attach to the said die vertical bolts g,which4 pass through perforations 7L and 7L', respectively, in the maindie e and follower I and are provided on their upper ends with heads,between which and the top of the follower are y interposed spiralexpansionsprings h2.

For forcing the auxiliary dief down from the face ofthe recess e in theoperation of the machine, as hereinafter described, I provide the faceof the recess with parallel grooves 11 t', which are beveled atcorresponding edges and in corresponding directions, as shown at u.Between the two dies are interposed wedge-plates 'i' t', shaped to enterinto the grooves i i and attached to a bar i2, by means of which saidwedge -plates can be moved into and out of the aforesaid grooves. lVhenseated in the grooves, the auxiliary die is allowed to rest on the faceof the recess e', and

by forcing the wedge-plates out ofthe grooves l said die is depressedfrom the face of said recess. For moving the bar i2 I prefer to employ alever N, fulcrumed intermediate its a diameter to closely fit in theperforations h v in the main die. The upper end portions of said boltsare reduced in diameter and beveled at their junctions with the lowerend portions, as shown at g. From corresponding sides of the upper endportions of said bolts project wedgesj, the lower ends of which are at asufficient distance from the upper ends of the lower end portions of thebolts to allow said portions of the bolts to pass out of theperforations h 7L by the time the Wedgesjj` come in contact with theupper ends of said perforations, which contact causes the wedges tocrowd the bolts sidewise, and thus'move the auxiliary die f laterally inthe recess of the main die for the purpose hereinafter explained. y

The functions of the described main die e and auxiliary diefare to bendand partly fold the flanges II' and G of the metal sheets preparatory tocompressing and finally clenching said edges in the form of a doubleseam, which final step in the operation of the machine is effected bymeans of a die consisting of a horizontal plate l. (Shown in operativeposition in Fig. 8 of the drawings.) This final clenchingedie isarranged movable to and from an intervening position' between the platenB and main die e and is carried by a hanger Z', connecting the die Z toa carriage n, mounted on guides o 0, attached to the top of the followerI, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3,4, and 8 of the drawings. The carriage'n isprovided with a suitable handle n', by means of which the attendant ofthe machine moves said carriage to carry the clenching-die Z to and froman intervening position between the platen B and die e. I preferablyemploy means for either assisting or automatically effecting themovement of the clenching-diet from said intervening position. Onespecies of such means is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and consists ofa rope or cable fr, attached at one end to the carriage n and passingthence over a sheave s, pivoted to a bracket s', secured to a stationarysupport and having a weight t, attached to the depending end of the ropeor cable.

The operation of the described maclline is as follows, to wit: First thelever F is to be manipulated to turn the eccentrics C C to a position tolower the platen B, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.Then the metal sheets G and H to be joined are placed on the platen,with the Iianges of said sheets projecting upward, and in this positionthe sheets are firmly secured to the platen by means of the clamp Kembracing the main portion of the depending sheet H. Then the IOO IIO

attendant of the machine causes the platen `B to rise, and by operatingthe lever N he causes the wedge-plates il' to be shifted from thegrooves i and depress the auxiliary die 5 ffrom the face of the recessin the main die e. Then by setting the press in motion to depress thefollower I the auxiliary die is caused to press onto theinwardly-projecting flanges H of the Sheet H and bend said flanges downto an angle of about forty-five degrees, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 5 of the drawings and shown in full lines in Fig. 9 of thedrawings. The lever N is then to be operated to move the wedge-plates t"back into the grooves z' and allow the springactuated bolts g to drawthe auxiliary die onto the face of the recess e. Then a second downwardimpulse is to be imparted to the press, which causes the partly inwardlyfolded flange H', together with the flange Gr', to be forced into thespace between the sloping portion cl of the recess e' and the slopingedge of the auxiliary die f. By this action the flange G and adjacentportion of the sheet H are bent inward and the flange H/ is bent ontothe inner side of the flange G', as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Themotion of the press is then to be reversed to lift the follower with themain die e. In this movement the engagement of the folded flanges of thesheets with the sloping edge of the supplemental die f restrains theupward movement of the auxiliary die and causes the bolts g to be drawndownward. This causes the lower end portions of the bolts to pass out ofthe perforations 71, and at the same time brings the wedges j of thebolts to come in contact with the upper ends of the perforations 7i andcrowd the bolts sidewise, and therebyshift the auxiliary dieflaterallyin the recess of the main die e, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.This releases the flanges of the sheets from their engagement with theedge of the auxiliary die,which die is then drawn up into the recess eof the main die by the spring-actuated bolts g, as shown in Fig. 8 ofthe drawings. Said bolts thus resume their normal position and carry theauxiliary die to its original position. The press is then again set inmotion to lift the follower I, with the dies e and f, sufficiently toadmit the clenching-die Z between the platen B and main die e, to whichposition said clenching-die is carried by the attendant moving thecarriage n. After the die Z is thus disposed the press is again set inmotion to cause the follower to depress the said die with sufficientforce to effectually compress and clench the folded flanges of thesheets, as illustrated in Fig. S of the drawings. This completes thedoubleseaming of the sheets.

Vhat I claim as my invention isl. A machine for double-seaming metalsheets,comprising a vertically-movable platen for supporting the sheetsto be united, eccentrics pivotally supported on the main frame andcarrying the platen, means for turning said eccentrics to impartvertical movement to the platen, a press-follower facing said platen,dies introduced between the platen 4and follower and shaped to sustainthe edges of the sheets at successively-increasing angles, and means forapplying pressure to the follower and folding and compressing the edgesof the sheets on the dies. i

2. -A machine for double-seaming metal sheets,comprisin g avertically-movable platen for supporting the sheets to be united, shaftsdisposed beneath and parallel with the platen and pivotally supported onthe main frame, eccentrics of corresponding diameters fastened to saidshafts, parallel arms of equal length fixed to said shafts, a rodconnecting the free ends of said arms, means for imparting reciprocatingmotion to said rod, a pressfollower facing said platen, dies introducedbetween the platen and follower and shaped to sustain the edges of thesheets at successively-increasing angles, and means for applyingpressure to the follower and folding and compressing the edges of thesheets on the dies.

3. A machine for double -seaming metal sheets, comprising a platen forsupporting the sheets to be united, a press-follower facing said platen,a main die carried on the face of the follower and provided with arecess for receiving the sheets carried on the platen and with aninwardly-sloped rim surrounding said recess, a vertically-movableauxiliary die disposed in said recess and having its edges slopedcorrespondingly to the aforesaid rim to bend the flange of one sheetover'the flange of the companion sheet and turn said flanges jointlyinward, means for imparting vertical movement to the aforesaid auxiliarydie, and means for applying pressure to the follower.

Ll. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-movable platen for supporting the sheets to be united, meansfor sustaining said platen at dierent elevations, a press-followerfacing said platen, a main die carried on the face of the follower andprovided with a recess for receiving the sheets carried on the platenand with an inwardly-sloped rim surrounding said recess, avertically-movable auxiliary die disposed in said recess and having itsedges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rim to bend the flange ofone sheet over the flange of the companion sheet and turn said flangesjointly inward, means for imparting vertical movement to the aforesaidauxiliary die, and means for applying pressure to the follower.

5. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the ycombination of avertically-movable platen for supporting the sheets to be united,mechanism imparting vertical movement to said platen, a press-followerfacing said platen, a main die carried on the face of the follower andprovided with a recess for receiving the sheets carried on the platenand with an inwardly-sloped rim surround- IOO IIO

VIQ

ing said recess, a vertically-movable auxiliary die disposedfin saidrecess and having its edges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rimto bend the ange of one sheet over:

' inwardly-sloped rim surrounding said recess,

a vertically-movable auxiliary die disposed in said recess and-havingits ed ges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rim, means forimparting vertical movement to said auxiliary die, and means forapplying pressure to the follower as set forth.

7. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of aplaten supporting the sheets to be united, a press-follower facing saidplaten, a main die carried on the face of the follower and provided witha recess for receiving the sheet lying upon the top of the platen andwith an inwardly-sloped rim surrounding said recess and grooves in theface of the recess beveled at corresponding edges and in correspondingdirections, a vertically-movable auxiliary die sustained yieldingly inthe recess of the main die and having its edges sloped correspondinglyto the aforesaid rim, wedge-plates interposed betweeny said main andauxiliary dies, means for moving said wedge-plates into and out of theaforesaid grooves, and means for applying pressure to the follower asset forth.

8. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-movable platen, a clamp securing to said platen the sheets tobe united, means for imparting vertical movement to the platen, apress-follower facing said platen, a main die carried on the face of thefollower and provided with a recess for receiving the sheet lying uponthe top of the platen and with an inwardlysloped rim surrounding saidrecess and grooves in the face of the recess beveled at correspondingedges and in corresponding directions, a vertically-movable auxiliarydie sustained yieldingly in the recess of the main die and having itsedges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rim, wedge-platesinterposed between said main and auxiliary dies, means for moving saidwedge-plates into and out of the aforesaid grooves, and means forapplying pressure to the follower as set forth.

9. In a machine for 'double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of aplaten supporting the sheets to be united, a press-follower facing saidplaten, a main die fastened to the follower and provided with a recessfor re- 'ceiving the sheet lying upon the top of the platen and with aninwardly-sloped rim surrounding said recess and parallel grooves in theface of the recess beveled at corresponding edges and in correspondingdirections, a vertically-movable auxiliary die sustained yieldingly inthe recess of the main die and having its edges sloped correspondinglyto the aforesaid rim, wedgeplates interposed between the main andauxiliary dies, a bar connecting said plates to each other, means formoving said bar to carry the wedge-plates into and out of the aforesaidgrooves, and means for applying pressure to the follower as set forth.

l0. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of aplaten supporting the sheets to be united, a press-follower facing saidplaten, a main die fastened tothe follower and provided with a recessfor receiving. the sheet lying upon the platenand with aninwardly-sloped rim surrounding the recess, an auxiliary die sustainedyieldingly in the recess of the main die, springs holding the auxiliarydie normally seated on the face of the recess, means for depressing theauxiliary die from said normal position, and means for applying pressureto the follower.

1l. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of aplaten supporting the sheets to he united, a press-follower facing saidplaten, a main die fastened to the follower and provided With a recessfor receiving the sheet lying upon the platen and with -aninwardly-sloped rim surrounding the recess, an auxiliary die sustainedyieldingly in said recess and having its edges sloped correspondingly tothe rim of the main die, springs holding the auxiliary die normallyseated on the face of the recess, means for forcing the auxiliary die ina lateral direction, and means for applying pressure to the follower.

12. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination, of avertically-movable platen, a clamp securing to said platen the sheets tobe united, means for imparting vertical movement to the platen, apress-follower facing the platen, a main die fastened to the followerand provided with a recess for receiving the sheet lying upon the platenand with an inwardly-sloped rim surrounding the recess, an auxiliary diesustained yieldingly in said recess and having its edges slopedcorrespondingly to the rim of the main die, springs holding theauxiliary die normally seated on the face of the recess, means forforcing the auxiliary die in a lateral direction, and means forapplyingpressure to the follower.

13. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-movable platen, a clamp for securing to said platen thesheets to be united, means for imparting vertical movement to theplaten, a press-follower facing the platen and provided with verticalperforations, a main die fastened to the follower and provided withperforations disposed eccentric in relation to those of the follower,said main die provided in its under side with a recess for receiving thesheet lying upon the platen and with an inwardly-sloped rim surroundingthe recess, an auxiliary die disposed yieldingly in said recess andhaving its edges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rim, boltsattached to the auxiliary die and extending through the aforesaidperforations and having their lower end portions fitted closely in theperforations of the main die and upper end portions reduced in diameterand beveled at their junctions with the lower end portions, springsforcing the said bolts upward, means for forcingthe auxiliary diedownward from the main die and means for applying pressure to thefollower as set forth.

14. ln a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-movable platen, a clamp securing to said platen the sheets tobe united7 means for imparting vertical movement to the platen, apress-follower facing the platen and provided with verticalperforations, a main die fastened to the follower and provided withperfor-ations disposed eccentric in relation to those of the follower,the under side of said main die provided with a recess for receiving thesheet lying upon the platen and with an inwardlysloped rim surroundingthe recess, an auxiliary die disposed yieldingly in said recess andhaving its edges sloped correspondingly to the aforesaid rim, boltsattached to the auxiliary die and extending through the aforesaidperforations and having their lower end portions fitted closely to theperforations of the main die and their upper end portions reduced indiameter and beveled at their junctions with the lower end portions,wedges projecting from the sides of the upper end portions,expansion-springs interposed between the top of the follower and headsof the bolts, movable wedge-plates interposed between the main andauxiliary dies, a lever for moving said wedge-plates, and means forapplying pressure to the follower as set forth.

l5. A machine for double-seaming metal sheets, comprising a platen forsupporting the sheets to be united, a press-follower facing said platen,a main die fastened to the follower, an auxiliary die sustained movablyunder said main die and shaped to partly fold the joining edges of thesheets, means for moving said auxiliary die to different operativepositions, and a final clenching-die movable to and from between theplaten and main die, and means for applying pressure to the follower asset forth.

16. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-movable platen, a clamp for securing to the platen the sheetsto be united, means for moving the platen, a press-follower facing saidplaten, a main die attached to the follower, an auxiliary die sustainedmovably under the main die and shaped to partly fold the joining edgesof the sheets, means for moving the auxiliary die to different operativepositions, guides attached to the follower, a frame mounted on saidguides, a final clenching-plate suspended from said frame, means formoving said plate to and from between the platen and main die, and meansfor applying pressure to the follower as set forth.

17. In a machine for double-seaming metal sheets, the combination of avertically-mov able platen, a clamp for securing to the platen thesheets to be united, means for moving the platen, a press-followerfacing said platen, a main die attached to the follower, an auxiliarydie sustained movably under the main die and shaped to partly fold thejoining edges of the sheets, means for moving the auxiliary die todifferent operative positions, guides attached to the follower, a framemounted on said guides, a final clenching-plate suspended from saidframe, means for automatically moving said plate from the platen, meansfor forcing said plate between the platen and main die, and means forapplying pressure to the follower as set forth.

CHARLES N. BROWN. n.. S5]

